Page 101 of Mountain Wood

“Is this where everyone went earlier?” Her voice is soft like a songbird.

“Mm hmm. Nick has a key.”

“That explains all the tire tracks.”

Was she worried someone came up here while we were gone? “No one’s coming up here that’s not expected on a night like this. You don’t have to worry.”

“I thought I saw Bryson at the Jubilee.”

My heart skids to a stop. “Thought or know?”

“Hallucinated?” She shrugs. “That’s what I’m going with.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I wasn’t going to ruin the best date with something stupid like that. Besides, there’s no way he’d still be here. He’s back in New York being ajackass. Whoever I saw was just a dude in a black winter coat.”

A lot of men wear those. She’s probably right, and it was nothing.

But what if it was?

“I’ll be right back,” I say, peeling away from her. “I’m going to lock the gate down the hill, just to be safe.”

“It’s okay,” she says. “I’m just being overreactive. There’s no need to do that.”

“There’s every need.” My pants are hot from being so close to the fire all night. “I want you to feel safe here, Grace. Locking a gate is easy and can help achieve that.” Kissing her forehead, I inhale the scent of her shampoo. “Don’t you dare move until I get back.”

“Baby, I couldn’t move even if this cabin went up in flames.”

She tucks into the blankets, burying her face in a pillow, and sighs.

When I come back from locking the gate, she’s fast asleep. I let Oscar out of my bedroom, giving her extra treats for being so good while I got Grace to myself for a few hours.

Exhaustion has me curling up on the floor with my woman to watch the snow fall. I’ve carried the weight of my world for so long, the heaviness has become a part of me. But this is the first time I’ve held my world in my arms.

And I feel light as a feather.

“Good morning, beautiful.” I kiss Grace’s forehead. “Keep your eyes closed for me, okay?”

She giggles sleepily. “What are you up to now?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“Another one?” Her thighs rub against each other.

It makes me want to deviate from my plan, but Oscar ruins it by running across the blankets.

“Settle down.” Not listening, Oscar races to the front door, desperate to go out.

Ignoring her, I wrap Grace in one of the heavier blankets and help her stand.

“Keep your eyes closed, okay?”

Grace squeezes her eyes shut even tighter. “Okay.”

She waddles in front of me, and I cover her eyes with my hands just to make sure she doesn’t cave and peek.

“One… two… three.” I let go. “Open them.”

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